Supportive Housing Services Tax: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Metro-Oregon-logo-1200px-svg.png|thumb|right|300px|Metro Oregon, the implementing agency]]
[[File:
A measure on the May 19, 2020 ballot for Oregon Metro, the regional government body of the [[Portland,_Oregon|Portland,_Oregon]] area, to raise approximately $250M/year for "supportive housing services" aimed at addressing and preventing homelessness.
On February 25, 2020, the Metro Council unanimously approved ORDINANCE NO. 20-1442, to refer a Supportive Housing Services Ballot Measure to voters on the May 19 ballot.
<br/>Backing coalition's hashtags: #HereTogether, #ServicesAreSolutions. <br/> To view Twitter posts using these tags: [https://twitter.com/search?q=(#HereTogether%20OR%20#ServicesAreSolutions%20OR%20#SHSBM)%20-WhitworthMBB&src=typed_query&f=live Twitter combined search for hashtags #HereTogether, #ServicesAreSolutions, #SHSBM].<br/>
== February 28, 2020 discussion on OPB News Roundtable ==
Oregon Public Broadcasting. "OPB News Roundtable" February 28, 2020. Host Dave Miller, with Camilla Mortensen, Eric Fruits, and Marisa Zapata. Discussing Metro Supportive Housing Services measure starting at 12:35. [https://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/news-roundtable-coronavirus-business-impacts-non-alcoholic-bar/ https://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/news-roundtable-coronavirus-business-impacts-non-alcoholic-bar/].
*Camilla Mortensen - Editor-in-Chief of Eugene Weekly. [https://www.eugeneweekly.com/author/camilla-mortensen/ https://www.eugeneweekly.com/author/camilla-mortensen/].
*Eric Fruits - Cascade Policy Institute - [https://cascadepolicy.org/team/eric-fruits/ https://cascadepolicy.org/team/eric-fruits/]
*Marisa Zapata - Associate Professor of Land-use Planning, & Director of Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative at Portland State University.
== February 13, 2020 Metro hearing ==
"Portland: First and only public hearing on Metro homeless measure." Jennifer Dowling/KOIN 6 News,
''"Community members got a chance on Thursday, Feb. 13, to weigh in on a new tax that aims to help homeless people in the greater Portland area.''
''The Metro Council plans to work on the language of the measure on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The elected regional government could decide whether to put the measure on the May primary ballot as early as Thursday, Feb. 20.''
''Metro is a regional government, serving the three-county Portland area, and covers such issues as the Oregon Zoo, solid waste disposal and the urban growth boundary. Homelessness services has not been part of the Metro charter.''
''[[File:Lynn-Peterson-Metro-President-PMG-File-Photo.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Lynn Peterson, Metro president]]
''The Metro council is looking at raising taxes on wealthier people who live in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.''
''Nick Christensen, a senior public affairs specialist for Metro, said staff is discussing a 1% tax on individuals who make more than $125,000 per year, or couples who make at least $250,000 per year. The money would help fund things like mental health services, health care and additional treatment services. It would not be for building more affordable housing.''
''Metro voters approved an affordable housing bond at the November 2018 general election.''
''Local reactions''
''A large number of people and service organizations testified in favor of the tax on Thursday, including '''Katrina Holland''' who is a board member of the HereTogether advocacy organization that has proposed the measure.''
''"It's long overdue," she said. "We had a housing crisis for many years."''
''Others said supportive housing provides a critical foundation for wellness. Jennifer Langston said she has experienced homelessness in the past and is in favor of the tax.''
''But many people expressed concerns with the measure, saying more work is needed. One person testified that shelters are not the answer. Others questioned whether the money would be spent correctly.''
''"Our money isn't being spent the way it should be now, so what assurances do we have that this will be any different?" Gary Marschke asked.''
'''''Dan Newth''' is a vendor for Street Roots, a newspaper that provides income and visibility for homeless people. He said has experienced homelessness firsthand. He told Metro officials, "Policies are beneficial for staff and negative for those trying to get into housing."''
''Another man complained that the tax is not equitable, saying, "My work is being devalued to make a better life for me and my family and coworkers. I feel like I'm an ATM. I'm not a billionaire — I'm blue-collar."''
'''''Cascade Policy Institute President John Charles Jr.''' said Metro doesn't have many answers so far and the process has been rushed.''
''"How are they proposing to get the money?" he asked. "How much money? Where is it going to go? What are the metrics for measuring success? They don't, by their own admission, know any of that."''
''KOIN 6, a news partner of Pamplin Media Group, took some of these questions to Metro President Lynn Peterson and HereTogether. Peterson said Metro will set up an oversight committee to provide greater accountability.''
''"The reality is, this is something that we've been talking about for years," Katrina Holland said. "Quite frankly, after the housing bond passed (in 2019), immediately advocates in the community were thinking we need to pair these dollars with services dollars and we tried multiple things but it didn't go well."''
''Holland said she is optimistic the current measure will end up on the ballot."''
''— Jennifer Dowling/KOIN 6 News''<br/>
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this section presents a summary descriptions of services to be provided, priorities, local plans, and oversight, extracted from Exhibit A to Ordinance No. 20-1442: Supportive Housing Services Overview:
"SECTION 4. Services and Priorities<br/> Supportive Housing Services Revenue will fund Supportive Housing Services, including:
*street outreach services;
*transition and placement services;
*in-reach, basic survival support, and mental health services;
*interventions and addiction services (crisis and recovery);
*physical health services;
*interventions for people with physical impairments and disabilities;
*short and long-term rent assistance;
*eviction prevention;
*inancial literacy, employment, job training and retention education;
*peer support services;
*workplace supports;
*benefits, navigation and attainment (veteran benefits, SSI, SSDI, other benefits);
*landlord tenant education and legal services;
*fair housing advocacy;
*shelter services;
*bridge/transitional housing placement;
*discharge interventions;
*permanent supportive housing services;
*affordable housing and rental assistance and other supportive services.
Supportive Housing Services Revenue and Supportive Housing Services will '''first address the unmet needs of people who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing long-term or frequent episodes of homelessness'''. Supportive Housing Services Revenue and Supportive Housing Services will be prioritized in a manner that provides equitable access to people of color and other historically marginalized communities."<br/>
SECTION 6. Local Implementation Plans. [...]<br/> 5. Local implementation plans must include the following: [...] <br/> c. A review of current system investments or capacity serving priority populations, an analysis of the nature and extent of gaps in services to meet the needs of the priority population, broken down by service type, household types, and demographic groups. d. A description of the planned investments that includes: (1) the types of services, and how they remedy the service gap analysis; (2) the scale of the investments proposed; (3) the outcomes anticipated; and (4) the service delivery models that will be used in each area of service." [...]
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3. Membership.<br/> The Supportive Housing Services Community Oversight Committee is composed of 20 members, as follows:<br/> a. Five members from Clackamas County.<br/> b. Five members from Multnomah County.<br/> c. Five members from Washington County.<br/> d. One representative from each of the Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah County Board of Commissioners and the Portland City Council to serve as ex officio members.<br/> e. One member of the Metro Council to serve as a non-voting delegate.<br/>
=== SECTION 6. Local Implementation Plans ===
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h. Representation ensuring geographical diversity.
5. Local implementation plans must include the following:
a. A strategy for equitable geographic distribution of services within the respective jurisdictional boundary and the Metro district boundary.
b. A description of how the key objectives of Metro’s Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion have been incorporated. This should include a thorough racial equity analysis and strategy that includes:
(1) an analysis of the racial disparities among people experiencing homelessness and the priority service population;
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k. A description of how the plan will prioritize funding to providers who demonstrate a commitment and delivery to under-served and over-represented populations, with culturally specific and/or linguistic specific services, as well as those programs that have the lowest barriers to entry and actively reach out to communities often screened out of other programs.<br/>
=== SECTION 8. Equity and Community Engagement ===
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1. Each county or local government receiving funds must make an annual report to the Metro Council and the oversight committee on how funds from the taxes have been spent and how those expenditures have affected established homelessness metrics.
<br />
== Supportive Housing Services Stakeholder Advisory Table ==
appointed in June 2020. [https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/2020/06/22/Regional%20Supportive%20Housing%20Services%20Stakeholder%20Advisory%20table%20member%20list.pdf Members list] posted by Metro on June 20.
First meeting (online) scheduled for July 7:
"The purpose of the Stakeholder Advisory Table is to affirm and refine regional values and bring clarity to implementation of the regional supportive housing services program. The members are representatives from homeless and supportive housing services providers, community-based organizations and coalitions, business leaders and public health providers from across the region. This body will convene for four 2.5 hour meetings between July and September 2020.
Members (22):
* Tabitha Alajmi, [https://cscoregon.org/ Clackamas Service Center]
* Bridget Dazey, [https://www.clackamasworkforce.org/ Clackamas Workforce Partnership]
* Brantley Dettmer, [https://westsidealliance.org/ Westside Economic Alliance] - Westside Portland business alliance
* Mercedes Elizalde, [https://www.centralcityconcern.org/ Central City Concern] - founded 1979
* Melissa Erlbaum, [https://www.cwsor.org/ Clackamas Women’s Services]
* Katherine Galian, [https://caowash.org/ Community Action of Washington County]
* Francisco Garcia, [https://devnw.org/ DevNW]
** Corvallis, Salem, Oregon City, Springfield
** services include: homeownership and financial counseling, downpayment assistance, builds & operates affordable rental housing, community building.
* Garciela Gomez Cowger, [https://portlandalliance.com/ Portland Business Alliance]
* Ashley Henry, [https://www.bbpdx.org/ Business for a Better Portland]
* TomiRene Hettman, [https://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/residents-organizing-for-change/ Residents Organizing for Change]
**Hettman is also on the [http://www.homeforward.org/home-forward/leadership/board-of-commissioners Board of Commissioners of Home Forward] (the former Portland Housing Authority)
**ROC:
***''"a statewide network of residents of affordable housing, those in need of, and front-line staff of affordable housing providers that are committed to advocating for safe, stable, and affordable housing for all Oregonians."''
***''"In 2019 ROC was formed, and is working toward establishing regional chapters and a steering committee that will help move the ROC housing justice movement."''
***''"The impact of those with lived experience is an equitable way to improve housing policy that is the cornerstone of improving the lives across Oregon. In 2020, ROC will meet to solidify a steering committee, create a training curriculum to advance leaders, and continue to lend their voices to the housing justice movement for all Oregonians."''
* Katrina Holland, [https://joinpdx.org/ JOIN]- homelessness services
* Mitch Hornecker, [https://www.portlandchildrenslevy.org/about-us/allocation-committee Modoc Consulting]
* Jenny Lee, [https://www.apano.org/ APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon)]
*[https://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/meet-samm-she-rocs/ Samm McCrary], [https://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/residents-organizing-for-change/ Residents Organizing for Change]
* Tyler McInnis, [https://welcomehomecoalition.org/ Welcome Home Coalition]
** a project fiscally sponsored by JOIN
** Steering Committee:
*** Will Miller - Native American Youth and Family Center
*** Katrina Holland, JOIN
*** Jenny Lee, APANO
*** Sahaan McKelvey, Self Enhancement Inc
*** Amanda Saul, Community Member
*** Nick Sauvie, ROSE Community Development Corporation
*** Kaia Sand, Street Roots
*** Marisa Zapata, Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative at Portland State University
* Sahaan McKelvey, [https://www.selfenhancement.org/ Self Enhancement Inc].
** founded 1981 by Tony Hopson, Sr.
* Jackie Mercer, [https://www.naranorthwest.org/ Native American Rehabilitation Association of the NW]
* Dave Nielsen, [https://www.hbapdx.org/ Homebuilders Association of Metro Portland]
* Rich Roell, [https://www.lifeworksnw.org/ Lifeworks] - mental health services
* James Schroeder, [https://www.healthshareoregon.org/ HealthShare] - Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) provider for tri-county area.
* Rowie Taylor, [https://www.dvrc-or.org/ Domestic Violence Resource Center]
* Bianetth Valdez, [https://www.homeplateyouth.org/ HomePlate] - youth services drop-in facility, Beaverton
Represented organizations that develop housing, or represent those that do:
* [https://www.hbapdx.org/ Homebuilders Association of Metro Portland]
* [https://devnw.org/ DevNW]
* ROSE Community Development Corporation (indirectly via Welcome Home Coalition)<br />
== Background: Here Together coalition ==
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*Multnomah County. "The quiet and relentless work of preventing homelessness." <br/> March 14, 2019. [https://multco.us/multnomah-county/news/quiet-and-relentless-work-preventing-homelessness. https://multco.us/multnomah-county/news/quiet-and-relentless-work-preventing-homelessness. ]<br/> Discusses rent-assistance programs in Multnomah County, including administration of Federal rent vouchers (done mostly by Home Forward agency, the former Portland Housing Authority), a county-level voucher pilot program for seniors funded by Meyer Trust, and other assistance programs. <br/>
*National Alliance to End Homelessness (2009). "Homeless Prevention: Creating Programs that Work." July 2009. [https://endhomelessness.org/resource/homelessness-prevention-creating-programs-that-work/ https://endhomelessness.org/resource/homelessness-prevention-creating-programs-that-work/].<br/> prepared by Abt Associates Inc. for the NAEH. <br/>
*Oregon Public Broadcasting. "OPB News Roundtable" February 28, 2020. Host Dave Miller, with Camilla Mortensen, Eric Fruits, and Marisa Zapata. Discussing Metro Supportive Housing Services measure starting at 12:35. [https://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/news-roundtable-coronavirus-business-impacts-non-alcoholic-bar/ https://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/news-roundtable-coronavirus-business-impacts-non-alcoholic-bar/].<br/>
*Piña, Gabriel & Maureen Pirog (2018): The Impact of Homeless Prevention on Residential Instability: Evidence From the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, Housing Policy Debate, DOI link: [https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2018.1532448 https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2018.1532448]. Available at: [https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Impact-Homeless-Prevention-Residential-Instability.pdf https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Impact-Homeless-Prevention-Residential-Instability.pdf]. <br/>
*Sparling, Zane. (2020). "Metro homeless tax committee membership under scrutiny." ["A coalition of addiction service providers say the committee lacks representation from substance abuse survivors and the homeless."]. ''Portland Tribune'', Thursday, July 02, 2020.<br />
*Thomas, Jake, and Leslie Pugmire Hole, and Jennifer Dowling. "Tribune Special Report: Homelessness crisis, from Salem to Portland to Clackamas County." Portland Tribune. February 14, 2020. [https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/452076-368538-tribune-special-report-homelessness-crisis-from-salem-to-portland-to-clackamas-county. https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/452076-368538-tribune-special-report-homelessness-crisis-from-salem-to-portland-to-clackamas-county. ][https://fhhdvflq88zy5xpor0bgfa-on.drv.tw/public/Pamplin%20Media%20Group%20-%20Tribune%20Special%20Report_%20Homelessness%20crisis,%20from%20Salem%20to%20Portland%20to%20Clackamas%20County.html Archived copy].
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